A New Kind of Community Center

In 2003, Joan Kroc gave The Salvation Army $1.5 billion of matching funds for the construction of Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers across the United States. Receiving preliminary approval in 2005, the Greenville Community helped The Salvation Army raise the community match endowment dollars required to receive a Kroc Center.

Kroc Greenville opened its doors in summer, 2011 as a center of recreation, education, and worship to members of all ages and backgrounds. The 73,000-square-feet building rests on 25-acres. Memberships and day passes available for a variety of fitness classes, sports facilities, and event venues.

The Kroc Center is a safe, caring and exciting place in our community where residents of all ages, races, educational backgrounds and economic means can come together to learn, grow, and explore their potential and to experience God’s love in the process.

Meet Joan Kroc, Philanthropist & Kroc Center Benefactor

Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, said that she took a tour of San Diego and it was then that she recognized a community that was in desperate need of a safe gathering place, a place with facilities and trained professionals to nurture children’s social skills, arts appreciation and athletic potential. She described The Kroc Center as being a beacon of light and hope in the community.

Mrs. Kroc entrusted The Salvation Army with $90 million to build the first Kroc Center in the Rolando neighborhood of San Diego. Sadly, she passed away a little more than a year after it opened. She was so pleased with what was accomplished here that she left $1.5 billion to The Salvation Army to build centers like this across the country. Today, there are 26 Kroc Centers nationwide.

The Kroc Center is a safe, caring and exciting place in our community where residents of all ages, races, educational backgrounds and economic means can come together to learn, grow, and explore their potential and to experience God’s love in the process.